Evil As Humans, page 24
“That’s good. Here, Xiao Yin, join this group. It’ll make it convenient to contact in normal times.”
Yin Ren obediently scanned the code to join the group and then looked dumbfounded…
[Love Each Other Like Family (5)]
Yin Ren: “…” Is this appropriate? Isn’t Zhong Chengshuo’s parents being too enthusiastic towards a new colleague?
The old lady seemed to have read his mind as she sighed to herself. “Xiao Zhong isn’t stupid, but he hasn’t had many friends since he was a child. Young man, you don’t know, but this is the first time he has brought a living adult back with him.”
Lord Ghost King was speechless for a moment.
Little miss, you don’t know, but I’m neither considered living nor human, so the truth will only disappoint you.
The old lady was still chattering on. “My son has no bad intentions, but he’s just too stubborn and can’t behave. Xiao Yin, take care of yourself. If he gets out of line, Auntie will scold him for you!”
Yin Ren smiled awkwardly. “Okay, will do, Auntie. Don’t worry, we got along fine before.”
The old lady then left the table feeling satisfied.
Yin Ren breathed a sigh of relief and clicked on the group chat he had just been added to. Together with him, there were five members of the group. Except for Zhong Chengshuo, who Yin Ren was familiar with, there were three other accounts he didn’t recognize.
One had an avatar of the calligraphy character “德*” and was named “Lao Zhong”. This was probably Zhong Chengshuo’s father.
*Virtue.
Another had an avatar of an enlarged snowflake with the name “Peace is a Blessing”… It was probably that sharp-eyed lady just now.
The remaining one didn’t look like it belonged to the elderly.
It was an avatar of an orange with human eyes and mouth, and the expression looked subtly annoying. The name next to it was “Fear The Maple”. Yin Ren clicked on the avatar and took a closer look. The owner of the account was a woman, and her personal signature showed: “Let’s go and get rid of evildoers*!”
*(为民除害) Idiom referring to eradicating disasters for the common people.
Perhaps this was Zhong Chengfeng, the sister who had “passed away a long time ago” that Zhong Chengshuo told him about.
Yin Ren silently closed WeChat and continued to contemplate at the table.
Zhong Chengshuo’s father was a man of his word. Even though the table was full of meat and fish, he cooked two extra dishes, one vegetarian and one meat, for Zhong Chengshuo. Zhong Chengshuo sat down next to Yin Ren with a strange vigilance on his face.
Even when he was facing Gao Mengyu’s “cat”, Zhong Chengshuo had never had such an expression.
Was it possible that this family had other secrets? Yin Ren became nervous. He politely declined Zhong Youde’s invitation to “have a drink together” and his chopsticks were more reserved than usual. He only dared to pick up small pieces of vegetables.
But the Zhong family didn’t let him off.
“Look at Xiao Yin. He’s so polite and speaks so well. It’s obvious he’s well educated,” Zhong Youde praised loudly.
“Yes, he’s so handsome too. I have seen many people, but I have never seen someone as handsome as him,” The old lady—Cheng Xuehua—sincerely lamented.
Zhong Chengshuo glanced at the two old people and wanted to say something.
Cheng Xuehua ignored her son. “Xiao Yin, do you have any brothers or sisters that you can introduce to our Xiao Zhong?”
Zhong Chengshuo wrinkled his face. “Mom…”
“Uh, I’m the only one in my family.” Yin Ren’s smile twitched a little.
He really had no younger siblings. There were a few “older siblings” that were well classified by Shian, but he was afraid that was something Zhong Chengshuo wouldn’t want to know… Wait, why was there a “brother” in her words just now?
Seeing Yin Ren’s natural performance, Cheng Xuehua continued to speak, “Auntie is just asking. Are you single? Do you like men or women?”
“Mom—?!”
Yin Ren: “…” Okay. Now he understood. No wonder Zhong Chengshuo was so nervous just now.
“Mom what? Your father and I are about to be buried six feet underground. Can’t we worry about you?” Cheng Xuehua snorted angrily.
Then she turned to Yin Ren and spoke like a spring breeze. “Xiao Yin, don’t take it personally. Auntie is just making a joke. After all, this kid isn’t enlightened. There are only three basic requirements—they’re alive, of legal age to marry, and younger than us.”
In fact, he only fulfilled “of legal age to marry”, but this was something that outsiders weren’t privy to. Yin Ren laughed awkwardly and changed the subject. “I don’t mind. Ah, Uncle, your ribs are delicious…”
The two old interrogators were in good spirits and soon the atmosphere became harmonious. Zhong Chengshuo almost won the “most misfit” award.
Fortunately, Zhong Chengshuo ate steadily and quickly and decisively ended the battle. “I’ll go back and clean up the house.”
Zhong Youde: “Okay. Do you have enough blankets and towels? Why don’t you bring some from home?”
“I have enough,” Zhong Chengshuo answered and quickly fled.
The old lady rolled her eyes, but there was a smile in her tone. “Look at him. I don’t know who he takes after.”
Yin Ren didn’t dare to eat more. He only symbolically added a bowl of rice, then quickly rushed into the kitchen to wash the dishes. If he hadn’t tried his best to stop them, Zhong Chengshuo’s parents would have dragged him to the supermarket to make some big purchases.
The two of them chatted while packing things. Zhong Youde sighed several times. “We don’t mind if Zhong Chengshuo finds a man, as long as he likes him.” …It could be seen that the old couple was heartbroken thinking that “Zheng Chengshuo would be alone”.
The old woman was too imposing, and her eyes were too sharp. Yin Ren didn’t dare relax for even a moment, lest he reveal something that shouldn’t be exposed.
It was no wonder Zhong Chengshuo moved out, Yin Ren thought helplessly. If he knew about this in advance, he would have fought to help clean the house with Zhong Chengshuo. In all senses, this place had put him in dire straits.
He didn’t know if his helplessness was felt by the heavens as his phone suddenly vibrated.
[Final Fruit: Good luck 🙂]
[Fruit Knife: …How long do you need to clean up? What the hell are you cleaning up for?!]
[Final Fruit: To prepare your room.]
[Fruit Knife: Brother, hurry up. Your parents are too powerful. You don’t need to prepare another room if you linger any longer. By that time, I’ll have to get a marriage certificate with you, yes?]
[Final Fruit: I know 💔]
Zhong Chengshuo let out a long sigh and put the phone back in his pocket.
He wasn’t at his residence but was standing in front of an old building with a heavy black leather bag. The building’s red bricks were full of holes, the walls were covered with overgrown roots, and the door was rusted and had countless scratches on it.
This was a private warehouse in the old town, so most of the nearby facilities were dilapidated. The few surveillance cameras that were there were mainly just for decorations, as they were broken 364 out of the 365 days.
Zhong Chengshuo entered the warehouse with ease and opened a secret door leading underground.
The room was about forty square meters on the ground floor. It had no windows, and it was pitch black inside. Zhong Chengshuo pressed a switch, causing the darkness to dissipate like a receding tide and the contents to be revealed like a reef.
Though the light in the room wasn’t bright, it was enough to see an overview.
On both sides of the ring were multi-layer shelves. Stainless steel round cans the size of a person’s head were neatly placed on them. Each had a handwritten label on it, and it was roughly estimated that there were about 50 of them. There was a long table in the middle of the room with a computer and an office chair—two spare chairs were stacked in the corner next to a sofa and refrigerator.
The wall facing the door was probably the liveliest part of the room.
The wall was covered with whiteboards, on which countless reports, articles, and photos were hung. They were connected by a red thread, making the wall look as if it was covered with a red spiderweb.
In the corner of the “spiderweb”, a newspaper clipping was immersed in the shadows.
“The Case of the Extraordinary Serial Killers in Haigu”.
Below the headline, the young faces of two serial killers were shown.
* * *
The author has something to say:
Hee hee (?
Xiao Zhong grew up in a healthy family, to the point of being too healthy (x
Xiao Zhong: I can guarantee that my partner has reached the legal age of marriage. Other things… are not guaranteed…
Xiao Yin: Indeed (sad)
Evil As Humans Ch25
Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
* * *
Chapter 25: Living Together
Yin Ren had no concept of what a modern room was.
Zhong Chengshuo’s parents’ home was ordinary. It was small in size, had few furnishings, and was simple. Since Zhong Chengshuo was a person with few desires, Yin Ren guessed that his place would be similar in style.
As soon as the door to the home opened, Yin Ren stood frozen at the doorway.
‘…No wonder Zhong Chengshuo didn’t want to live in Shian’s dorm,’ Yin Ren thought.
Zhong Chengshuo lived in a community called Ping’an Manor. The building was relatively new, with lush greenery around, including a lake with multiple pavilions. The residence itself was about 130 square meters, and the door faced floor-to-ceiling windows.
The windows almost covered the entire wall. The floor Zhong Chengshuo lived on was neither too high nor too low, so it had an excellent view of the scene. The lush landscape nearby complimented the brightly lit buildings in the distance.
The home was comfortably warm, and the wooden floor was clean and heated. The decoration of the entire residence had a homely style to it, filled with the fragrance of life; there was even the smell of fresh flowers floating in the air.
The walnut furniture was paired with a variety of lush green plants, and the ghost standing in the corner added a touch of dark red, which complimented the entire space.
Yin Ren exclaimed, “The TV says that housing prices are expensive, so you are quite good.”
Zhong Chengshuo handed him a pair of slippers. “No, it’s because there are so many murders in this community that the price is very cheap.”
Yin Ren cast another glance at the ghost in the corner that seemed to be facing the wall and fell into contemplation.
Not to mention anything else, the lady in the corner was powerful, at least one level stronger than Mr. Rose—her long hair was covered with blood scabs, and her pajamas were dyed a dark red with blood. Evil qi was emanating everywhere from the female ghost. When she turned her head 180 degrees, a white eye could be seen peeking through the gap in her hair.
Zhong Chengshuo didn’t seem to notice her. “In terms of living, this is one of the safest communities in Haigu—many of the small apartments in the community are owned by police officers, forensic pathologists, or medical staff.”
Compared with a murder house, a mortgage was more terrifying.
Yin Ren stood in awe. “Why didn’t you buy a small apartment?”
“This one was cheaper,” Zhong Chengshuo replied solemnly.
Got it. Most likely, this home was a tragic crime scene.
Seeing Yin Ren still standing at the doorway, Zhong Chengshuo said, “You have special abilities. I don’t know if you can get used to it. If you really can’t stand it…”
“It’s fine. I just didn’t expect your house to be in this kind of style.”
How could he not stand it? Yin Ren wiped his face. From the moment he moved in, he was the strongest murderous presence in this home.
“I originally wanted to move my parents in to live together.” Zhong Chengshuo spoke as he hung his coat next to the ghost, whose bloodshot eyes kept following him. “They couldn’t bear leaving their old neighbors, so they were reluctant to move. Because of that… Well, I moved here first.”
“I understand.” Yin Ren glanced at the ghost from the corner of his eyes.
For some reason, when it came to this topic, the ghost suddenly exuded a strong sense of helplessness.
She turned her head and stared at the two of them for a while, but seeing that Yin Ren had no obvious reaction, she bitterly floated through the wall and left.
“This is your room. Let me know if you’re missing anything,” Zhong Chengshuo said as he opened the door.
The bedroom that Zhong Chengshuo had prepared for him wasn’t small. It was clean and warm, and there was even a vase full of fresh flowers on the table. The room had a separate bathroom, and the carpet in the room was exceptionally soft.
The large furniture in the room showed no signs of being used. This was probably the parents’ room that Zhong Chengshuo originally reserved for them.
The only catch was that this bedroom window faced the atrium, so it was exceptionally quiet. Yin Ren reluctantly glanced at the floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, where the lights from outside were bright, creating a lively atmosphere.
The fabric sofa was wide and soft, so it was comfortable to lie on.
“Let’s go to the living room.”
Zhong Chengshuo hesitated for a bit before saying, “…Okay.”
Yin Ren got what he wanted as he stretched himself out on the sofa. “You’re the owner of the house, so is there anything I need to pay attention to?”
Zhong Chengshuo silently pointed to the decorative painting at the entrance. Only then did Yin Ren find out that this guy had even written down the covenants and hung them at the door—not to mention the handwriting was quite beautiful and it was even encased in a picture frame.
[“Co-living Agreement”]
[1. Division of housework: Zhong Chengshuo is responsible for shopping, cooking, and cleaning the room; Yin Ren is responsible for washing dishes and taking out the trash.]
[2. Daily expenses: Zhong Chengshuo is responsible for the expenses of food, water, electricity, and other daily expenses; Yin Ren is responsible for takeout, online shopping, and other activities done by the individual.]
[3. Precautions: put garbage in the trash cans, put dirty clothes in the laundry bin, clean the bathroom consciously after showering; please do not make loud noises after 23:00, please do not enter the private space of others without permission, and please do not eat strong-smelling food in public areas (including, but not limited to, durian, luosifen, stinky tofu, canned hearing, ect.)]
Yin Ren was silent. He thought that with Zhong Chengshuo’s character, he would come up with strange rules, but he didn’t expect them to be so loose. Well, there were a few things he cared about very much…
Yin Ren excitedly asked, “What’s takeout and online shopping?”
And he hadn’t tried any of the strong-smelling foods mentioned.
Zhong Chengshuo seemed to instinctively become aware of something, and his expression stiffened as he quickly tried changing the subject. “…We’ll talk about that later. Also, don’t move the things on the bookcase in the living room casually. I’ll put commonly used daily necessities outside.”
Only then did Yin Ren notice the bookcase.
He and Zhong Chengshuo stared at each other until the latter finally gave in. Zhong Chengshuo opened the cabinet slowly as his gaze became evasive.
The entire bookcase was exposed in front of Yin Ren’s eyes.
There were all kinds of books. Two-thirds of them were academic-related large books, which were interspersed with a number of history books, and the rest looked like novels. The books had traces that they’d been flipped through, so they weren’t just used for show.
The focus was on the inside cabinet door—it was full of SD cards and various discs, as well as two small boxes labeled PlayStation and Switch. From a glance, it was clear they were well organized by Zhong Chengshuo.
Zhong Chengshuo cautiously blocked half the front of the cabinet. “They are games and television-related things and are very fragile.”
Seeing Yin Ren’s eyes getting brighter, light traces of sweat started to form on Zhong Chengshuo’s forehead. He quickly shut the cabinet door. “These are all collections, and there’s a more convenient way to watch—what movie do you want to watch? You can use my tablet to log into my account.”
“Is there any that has humans fighting monsters?” Yin Ren’s attention was instantly drawn away.
Shian’s lounge was full of mild emotional films. He wanted to watch something practical, at least to get an idea of the public’s thoughts and reactions to monsters.
Zhong Chengshuo rushed to his bedroom, shut the door for a while, then ran out with a tablet.
There was a note attached to the back that specifically listed the recommended viewing order for series like
“I’m going to sleep. If you want to watch, please use the headphones.”
Zhong Chengshuo bent down in front of Yin Ren and stretched out his hand.
He held his breath, gently brushed away Yin Ren’s hair, and carefully put on the left earphone for Yin Ren. Zhong Chengshuo’s fingertips were warm. He lightly stroked Yin Ren’s ears, causing his long hair to shake lightly.
He didn’t seem to like the idea of skin-to-skin contact, as his movements were too cautious, as if Yin Ren were some kind of snow statue that would break at first touch.
Zhong Chengshuo’s face was so close that Yin Ren couldn’t help but look into those dark eyes. At this distance, he could hear the other party’s somewhat fast heartbeat—looking at the man’s taut face, it was probably due to tension.
